I think that this reading assignment definitely complimented Professor Weber's lectures. Henretta was almost exactly what she was talking about in class and helped me to get a better understanding of topics such as the Great Awakening and the Enlightenment. Both of these events discussed in Henretta were very important in history and needed to happen because the English monarchs had too much power over the American colonies. There could have been several different outcomes but I think it was inevitable that the American colonies would have to have new ideas and religions sometime since England is too far away to have complete control over all the colonies. It was essential for the American colonies to start their own form of government with leaders that they select. Also with so many different people it would be very difficult for the Church of England to really succeed over in the colonies. I found all the different forms of religion interesting. I did not really know much about deism before reading this text. Benjamin Franklin was a deist a deists believed that God created the world but then let the laws of nature take control. I think this is a very good way to look at religion. Another important part of this text was slavery. Slavery was a huge in the American colonies. 60 percent of all families in Chesapeake owned atleast one slave. For the most part, slaves were treated very poorly. Women were also not treated near as well as we are today. Men controlled almost everything at this time, such as the property and family.
In addition to the Henretta text we read Skemp, which mainly discussed the life of Benjamin and William Franklin. I found this text to be a lot more exciting to read than Henretta. I never knew so much about Benjamin Franklin but I think it was a good idea to read Skemp along with Henretta at this time because in Henretta we are learning about the Enlightenment which Benjamin Franklin played a major role in. Benjamin definitely made his way up the social ladder throughout his life. He started as a candle maker's son, did not have much education, was an apprentice, started the Pennsylvania Gazette, invented electricity, and much more. The kite experiment was especially neat to read about because it is crazy that such a simple experiment could lead to such an essential part of our daily lives.
I also skimmed over Sinners in the Hands of and Angry God and found it to be very fasinating. This article explains the line "Their foot shall slide in due time" which is from Deuteronomy 32:35. It says how the "wicked Israelites" were not completely believing in God and committing all kinds of sin but nothing bad was happening to them yet. The text says that although they may not know that God is paying attention, he is. God is paying attention to all their sins and when judgement time rolls around he will remember all the evil things they have done and will not accept them.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
I agree with what you said about deism, and that it seems like a good way to look at religion. I too, had never even heard of deism until this class. It definately makes you question your current ways of thinking and believing.
I think the Skemp reading gives a somewhat personal account of early America and interactions with England even though it is only a biography and not an autobiography. The Henretta book at times makes it difficult for the reader to pull together the whole scheme of events. Skemp makes this easier because the book revolves around the central characters of the two Franklins and how events affected them. I do think it is important to learn about the "first famous American" because obviously the environment of America had a different impact on children growing up here than in England. In Ben Franklin we see these impacts coming to fruition and creating a very different individual than would be created in England.
I think learning about the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening gave me a good sense about the climate of America before the revolution. Its neat to see the process that our country took in our thinking with the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening eventually climaxing with the revolution. Also, I had never really heard about deism either and I find it interesting and more so that it was a player in our society.
I agree the Book about Benjamin Franklin made it easier to understand the readings by Henretta. The book by Skemp went more into detail and helped me understand why Benjamin Frankilin believed the way he did. I feel teachers and parents today can learn from Benjamin Franklin how to interact with their students or children. Instead of making William behave and be the person BF wanted him to be, he gave him space, let him make his own decisions/mistakes, and it brought them closer together.
I had learned about deism in prior History classes, but this went more into depth and I got a better understanding. It is an interesting way to look at religion, but I don't agree with it. I don't agree with the laws of nature taking control.
Deist and atheist, in my opinion, are the only ones that can really get anywhere in politics. Politicians that base their beliefs on religion never get anywhere because they are to busy having religious wars.
I agree with you about reading the Henretta book with Skemp's book because they coincide very well. Also reading the Skemp book makes reading Henretta a little easier to read because it is more interesting. I also agree with your point of view on deism. It really does make you think about what you believe.
Very well put. Slavery was not only a huge part in American colonies though, they we're also an even bigger role in the West Indies. The lives of the Franklins was also interesting and gave a different view of America then most texts.
I agree with your thoughts on deism. I learned about it through this reading and agree that it is a good and different take on religion
I learned alot from the Skemp reading. One main topic I learned was about Deism with scientific revolution.
Post a Comment